Youth ambassadors officially open the Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall on Monday, July 20. Photo by Abigail Constantino/The Connection
The Children’s Science Center Lab opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax on Monday, July 20. It is the first interactive museum in Virginia where children and families can explore STEM concepts “through fun, engaging, hands-on” programs.
At the Experiment Bar, one of the four zones in the museum, children can choose three experiments to explore. Tablets mounted on the bar provide the written instructions while museum staff provide materials and guidance.
Fourth-grader Colin Burke, 9, one of the children who attended the ceremony as a youth ambassador, perused a container of construction blocks in the Tinker Shop, an area designed for the exploration of engineering design challenges. It is stocked with batteries, wires, switches and other building materials.
The Inspiration Hub and the Discovery Zone are the other zones in the museum.
Speakers during the opening included Del. Mark Keam (D-35) and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova. Keam said that the museum is a way to bring jobs to Northern Virginia in the future, as children become inspired to pursue STEM careers and bring their expertise back. Bulova said that it is a place that will “keep minds moving and curiosity piqued” year-round.
Executive director of the Children’s Science Center Nene Spivy thanked and presented a plaque to chairman of the board Tanya La Force for her role and leadership in the creation of the museum. She also presented plaques to the Junior League of Northern Virginia, Kincora, Fairfax Education Foundation and Dominion Virginia Power. Carolyn Moss of Dominion presented a check for $125,000 to the Children’s Science Center.
The museum had a soft opening last month and has served 5,000 people since then. It is expected to attract 60,000 visitors a year. Activities are designed for children ages two to 12. Admission is $12.
The Children’s Science Center operated an outreach program called Museum Without Walls, which is the precursor of the Children’s Science Center Lab. It expects to expand into a full-scale STEM-centered museum in 2020 that will be located in Dulles, Va. Visit http://childsci.org/ for more information about the museum.